Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6835, Thomas Fears, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
M Fears, Thomas
S. 6835-
carded
CONTENTS

4259 North Carolina
Thomas Fears of Stokes — in the State of N. Car: who was a M c Cav: in the Comfry command by Captain Reed — — — of the Regt. command by Nelson . . . in the Va: line for 2 years from 1779-
Died May 15 — 1833. A.B.
Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 100 — Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Jan y 33 and S th Roll: a 14. Sheppard. House of Reps.
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 150- Semi-ann l . allowance ending 4 th Mar: 33 50- $200.-
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk Book D Vol. 8 Page 30 -

7877✓
Declaration of Thomas H. G. for a pension
Notes G. etc
on Va. State Rolls. cavalry.
John Lyons
1832 Dist
deaths and withdrawal the 28th day of June 1831 and 1832

sworn to and subscribed this 28 th day of December 1832 last
William Lloyd
at Lyons
on the State R.R. country
Declaration of "Homer" from a poem Vernon G. G.
98/79

State of North Carolina Stokes County
I John Hill clerk of the court of pleas & quarter sessions of the County of Stokes aforesaid do hereby certify that James Lyon who witnessed the foregoing affidavit is a duly commissioned qualified & acting Justice of the peace in & for the County aforesaid & that his signature as such is genuine
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand & affix the seal of said County at office the 1st day of Jan'y 1833.
J. Hill. e. c. c.

North Carolina Stokes County
On the 12 th day of Sept 1832
personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Stokes in the State of North Carolina Thomas Fears a resident of Stokes County & State of North Carolina aged about seventy eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed 4 th Jan 1832. That he enlisted in or about the month of December 1779 he enlisted on the Virginia line of State troops for two years under lieutenant Clement Reed captain Armstrong belonging to Major John Atkinson's Corps of dragoons. That his enlistment took place in the County of Prince Edward State of Virginia where he was born and there liard. Deponent is unable to say whether the troop to which he belonged was transferred and received into the Continental establish- ment. That shortly after his enlistment he was marched to Williamsburg in said State of Virginia where his company joined the other two companies commanded by Captain Edmund Reed & Fears forming the aforesaid Corps.

or troop of the said Major Nelson, that before he left Williamsburg — Armstrong took command of the troop or company before commanded by the said — Fear, that after remaining encamped for about two months at Williamsburg, he marched for the South & on the way rendezvoused for about a month at Little York from whence the troop to which he was attached continued their southern route to Hillsborough in Carolina where they joined the Army under the Command of Genl De Kalb. In this expedition the dragoons or horse to which he belonged were attached to the Command of Genl Portfield of the State of Virginia. At Hillsboro Deponent was detailed as one of the life guard of the said Genl De Kalb that shortly after leaving Hillsboro & marching south Genl Gates joined the Army and took the Command. about this time as he understood it became desirable to effect an exchange of prison- ers with the enemy & Deponent was detailed in company with Robert Taylor & a Captain (whose name he does not recollect, bearing a flag with letters or despatches to Lord Cornwallis of the British Army then stationed at Camden that on this service he rode the horse belonging to Benjamin Clements of Edmund Reeds Company. Upon rejoining the Army he marched south to the South & was in the battle near Camden when Genl Gates was defeated when he was taken prisoner by a party of the — and after retreating about fifteen miles he was taken prisoner

by a party the British & Tories that after a de- tention of about six days he effected his escape & rejoined the Army at Hillsborough under Genl. Gates, when he obtained a furlough for about six weeks when he rejoined his Company under the said Captain Armstrong in the Legion of Petersburg State of Virginia that after marching in various directions in order to check the enemy in that part of the State of Virginia the troops to which he was attached had an engagement with the enemy while landing at James Town from whence the enemy was followed to York Town where the siege soon after commenced where he remained until the surrender of the British forces under Genl. Cornwallis that during nearly the whole of the siege dep- -ment acted by order as one of the life guards of the Marquis Lafayette. Upon the surrender he marched in charge of the prisoners to the Court of Hanover in the State of Virginia where he received a written discharge by Capt. Edmund Reed the oldest or first Cap- -tain of Major Nelson Troop. This discharge was by him deposited with the Archives of Virginia for the purpose of obtaining a certificate for his pay as far as he does not now recollect but thinks it was about the sum of £100 per annum 1781. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present. and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
I swear to in open Court the for a true copy of the last - M c Hill. C.C.C.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Benjamin Clements maketh oath that he was in the troop of horse commanded by Capt. Edmund Reed belonging to Major Nelson's Corps of horse in the State of Virginia in the Revolutionary War that upon marching to Williamsburg in said State his Company was joined by those commanded by Captain Armstrong & Fear when he became acquainted with Thomas Fear who was a trooper in Captain Armstrong's Company that after remaining about a month deponent ordered to the barracks in Albamarle that he subsequently joined by com- mand at Hillsborough where he again found the said Thomas Fear in the same troop that he deponent well recollects that said Fear with himself & other acted as the body or life guard of Detachment. He also remembers that said Fear was sent with a flag to the British Army & that he rode his deponent's horse - on the troops that had been assigned to him - That before said Fear had returned from this service deponent was again detached to guard the prisoners in Albamarle & was not again in the service to which said Fear belonged - That he has seen him since in the County of Halifax Virginia & has for a short time known him in the County of Stokes when he now resides - That he has not doubt but was well aware that he has performed the service due of the service as set forth in his pensionary declaration.
Sworn to in open Court - the 12 th of Sept. 1832
Benjamin Clements
Test M c Neill. c.c.c.
and the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion

that the above named applicant Thomas Yates was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. They further certify that Benjamin Clement who has made the accompanying affidavit is a credible witness and that his statement is entitled to credit.
I John Bell Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Stokes Co. NC here certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Thomas Yates for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the seal of said Court at Open Court in said Court at the 15 th day of Sept. 1832
W m Hill. c.c.c.
State of NC Stokes County
Personally appears before me James Lynn Justice of the peace for said county. Thomas Yates who being duly sworn deposes and saith that he said Thomas Yates served as a soldier of the Revolution under the enlistment in the foregoing declaration the term of two years. on the Virginia State Roll of Cavalry as a private in the company of ...

Sworn to and subscribed this 28 th day of December 1832 last
William Lloyd
at Lyons
on the State Rail road
Declaration of Helen Hunt Jones, of age
1832

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
August 14, 1961.
Mrs. Mary B. Fleming 2106 State Street Nashville, Tennessee.
Rev. & 1812 War Section MEF:ILL
am
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 6335, that Thomas Fears was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, date of birth and names of his parents not shown.
While a resident of Prince Edward County, Virginia, he enlisted in December, 1779 and served as a private in Captain Armstrong's Company, Major John Nelson's Corps of dragoons which was later attached to Colonel Porterfield's Virginia Regiment; at Hillsboro, North Carolina, he was detailed as one of the life guard to General De Kalb; he was also ordered with a flag and despatches to Lord Cornwallis, then at Camden, South Carolina; he was in the battle of Camden, was taken prisoner by the British and Tories, held captive about six days and made his escape; at Hillsboro, North Carolina, he received a furlough for six weeks, then rejoined Captain Armstrong's Company, was in the battle of Jamestown and Siege of Yorktown, during which siege he was one of the life guard to Marquis de Lafayette; after the surrender of Cornwallis, he marched in charge of prisoners to Hanover County, Virginia, and was discharged about November 1, 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 12, 1832, while a resident of Stokes County, North Carolina, aged about sixty-eight years.
He died May 15, 1833.
There are no family data.
Very truly yours,
A. B. MILLER, Assistant to Administrator.
Handwritten notes: From L 2/3 Ex

1931 - Aug. 14 - Heir. to Mrs. Mary B. Fleming. L22.
Revman
6835
INVALID.
File No. 6835
Thomas Fears
Priv. Rev. War.
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: Vol. 1 of, Page 122
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thomas Hears which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no . VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes. VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes. IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
has a witness.
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes.
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes,
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Thomas Pears.
for 1779 private of Canby 2 years. $100. Amended declaration
7
Thomas Pears
of Stokes Co. N.C.
He stopped re- quests on early after her birth. —
9. 9. 15
Jan. 10. 1823 ret. safe

Mr. L Edwards Esq.
I have the pleasure of returning the Declaration of Thomas Fearn with an affidavit designating the same - the only objection taken - And shall be very glad to have it prepared on parchment as the applicant is very poor, old and mentally -
With great respect yours
J. H. Stephens

2104 State St., Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 1, 1931.
The Director of Bureau of Pensions (Records of Rev. War Veterans) Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Please give me the copy of the record of the following:
1. Thomas Fears , private in North Carolina Cavalry, who is said later to have moved to S. C. and then Ga. His name is on the 1840 list of pensioners.
2. Robert Fleming , who on the 1840 list of pensioners, was listed as living in Lincoln Co., Ga. at the home of his son Isaac. Very truly yours, (Mrs.) Mary B. Fleming.